Idris Elba plays Nelson Mandela in the biopic of the late South African leader (Picture: Picture: Pathe/Keith Bernstein)

Idris Elba and Naomie Harris

It’s not called the British Academy of Film and Television Arts for nothing.

Usually, there’s a distinct bias towards Brits in the nominations but neither Idris Elba or Naomie Harris received nominations for their performances in Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, just a month after the ex-South African president’s death.

James McAvoy won critical acclaim for his role in Filth (Picture: Lionsgate)

James McAvoy

James McAvoy picked up a best actor prize at the British Independent Film Awards for his searing performance as a bent copper fast losing his morals and his mind in this Irvine Welsh adaptation but failed to make even the shortlist at the Baftas.

Jared Leto has been tipped for an Oscar but lost out on a Bafta nomination (Picture: Focus Features)

Dallas Buyers Club

It’s a well-known awards formula that putting on or losing weight for a harrowing role, pretty much guarantees nominations galore.

Sadly, this hasn’t worked for either Matthew McConaughey or Jared Leto, both sensational as AIDS sufferers in Dallas Buyers Club.

A smaller film like Before Midnight was never going to be in with a shot for any of the main categories but its witty and intelligent script, co-written by director Richard Linklater and stars Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke, should have scored an original screenplay nod.

Her failed to received any nominations (Picture: Entertainment Film Distributors)

Her

Her has emerged as a surprise front-runner in the awards race with voters falling for Spike Jonze’s tender love story between a lonely writer (Joaquin Phoenix) and a Siri-like computer operating system (Scarlett Johansson)

Although it won’t be getting any Bafta love as it failed to get any nominations at all today.